Apparatus for producing water from a well



United States Patent 11113,543,851

[72] Inventor Forest D. Gray [56] References Cited Bakersfield, California 6 332 UNITED STATES PATENTS [21] P 59,782 11/1866 Shoune 166/106 [22] Filed 0ct.21, 1968 1,252,557 1/1918 Dunn 166/l06 [45] Patented Dec. 1, 1970 [73] Assignee Tenneco oilcompany 2,898,999 8/1959 Carpenter 166/179 HousmnTexas 3,261,403 7/1966 Newman 166/105 a corporation of Delaware Primary Examiner-James A. Leppink Attorney-Eugene S. Coddou [54] APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WATER FROM A WELL ABSTRACT: The apparatus for producing water from a well 6 Clams l Drawmg includes a well casing, and a production pipe supported [52] U.S.Cl 166/106, therein with the pump means connected to the' production 166/1 12 pipe for pumping water from the well. The invention includes [51] Int. Cl EZlh 43/00 seal means for providing an air seal between the casing pipe [50] Field ofSearch 1661105, and the production pipe whereby oxygen intrusion into the 106, 179, 187, 1 12 water produced from the well is substantially eliminated.

Patented Dec. 1, 1970 Fore: r .3. (7705/ INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WATER FROM A WELL This invention relates to an apparatus for producing water from a well. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus for producing water from a well whereby oxygen intrusion into the water produced from the well is substantially eliminated.

Water quality control is a serious economic problem in certain situations. For example in the production of steam for use in heating an oil reservoir in a thermal recovery process, oxygen must be completely'eliminated from the supply water before entry of the same into the steam generator.

Heretofore, the methods used to eliminate the oxygen in the supply water going to a steam generator included the removal of oxygen from the water after the intrusion into the system. This, of course, requires the use of expensive equipment to remove the intruded oxygen, which method of removal is quite expensive and requires additional equipment.

The usual source of the intruding oxygen is from the water pump which is supplying the water from a water well, for example.

it is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for producing water from a well or the like which apparatus substantially eliminates the intrusion of oxygen into the produced water.

Briefly stated, this invention is for an apparatus for producing water from a well. lt includes a casing pipe extending downwardly into the well, with the lower end of the casing pipe being substantially below the water level in the well. It also includes production pipes supported inside the casing, with pump means connected to the production pipe and supported below the water level in the well and above the lower end of the casing. These pump means are for pumping water from the well up through the production pipe. Seal means are provided for making an air seal between the casing pipe and the production pipe, whereby oxygen intrusion into the water produced from the well is substantially eliminated.

Reference to the drawing will further explain one presently preferred embodiment of the invention wherein a central sectional view ofthe well is shown having the apparatus ofthis invention installed therein.

There a well bore 10 of a water well is shown having a concrete slab 11 mounted thereover, which slab supports a well head 12 with a gasket 13 therebetween and with casing 14 depending therefrom and extending downwardly into well bore 10 below the water level 15 therein.

Well head 12 also supports the production pipe 16 mounted inside casing 14. It is to be understood that gasket 13 seals the annulus between casing pipe 14 and production pipe 16 and may sometimes be referred to as one form of the seal means. Another form of seal means may be an inflatable packer 17 mounted between production pipe 16 and casing pipe 14 immediately below gasket 13, and also provides an air sea] therebetween.

Pump means in the form of a centrifugal turbine pump is connected to and supported by production pipe 16 below water level 15 in the well bore 10. The numeral 18 generally designates the bowl assembly of such a pump which is arranged to be turned by pump shaft 19 extending upwardly through production pipe 16 and arranged for rotation by power means (not shown) in well head 12 in convention manner.

The annulus between casing 14 and well bore 10 is filled with gravel 22 which may be supplied thereto through gravel shoot 23, the upper end ofwhicli is sealed by plug 24.

The water produced upwardly through the production pipe 16 is directed to delivery pipe 28 which may be connected to a steam generator feed water system of the type shown in applicants copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 754,347 filed Aug. 21, 1968, for example. Delivery pipe 28 also has connected thereto a sounding line 29 which is arranged to flow water back inside of casing pipe 14 at predetermined times. The sounding line 29 is provided with a pressure relief valve 30 which can be preset at any desired pressure level such that a pressure level of a predetermined extend can be maintained in delivery pipe 28. When the well pump produces water at such a rate as to exceed the pressure level set on valve 30. the produced water is diverted back through the sounding line 29 to the well. Hence, the pump may be operated continuously and a supply of water provided at a constant pressure level to the steam generator.

For monitoring purposes, a vacuum gauge 31 with a convenient readout may be installed in the annulus between the casing pipe 14 and production pipe 16 and immediately below packer 17. In operation of the apparatus, it is installed in the manner shown in the drawing. During rotation of pump shaft 19, water is drawn up through bowl assembly 18 through production pipe 16 and delivered to delivery pipe 28. During this pumping operation a substantial vacuum will be created in the annulus between casing pipe 14 and production pipe 15 and above the water level in the well while the well is being pumped, if the packer 17 and gasket 13 are providing an effective seal. If not, the vacuum gauge 31 would provide a readout of the lack of proper sealing.

It will thus be seen that apparatus has been provided to seal a water supply well at the surface to prevent the entry of oxygen into the water. This system substantially eliminates oxygen intrusion into the water supply system since the normal intrusion point has been sealed off.

It is to be understood that packet 17 could be used without gasket 13, and gasket 13 could be used with packer 17, so long as each individual performs an effective sealing operation, as described above. However, the inclusion of both provides greater assurance that the seal will be maintained.

It is to be understood that the foregoing is generally illustrative of the invention Iclaim:

1. ln apparatus for producing water from a well, the combination comprising:

casing pipe extending downwardly into said well with the lower end thereof substantially below the water level in said well;

production pipe supported inside said casing pipe;

pump means connected to said production pipe below the water level in said well and above the lower end of said casing for pumping water from said well up through said production pipe;

a sounding line connected to said production pipe and arranged to flow water back inside said casing pipe at predetermined times;

pressure relief means arranged for sensing the water pressure in said production pipe and diverting water through said sounding line when said water pressure exceeds a predetermined level; and

seal means for providing an air seal between said casing pipe and said production pipe whereby oxygen intrusion into said water produced from said well is substantially eliminated.

2. Theinvention as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said seal means includes a packer mounted between said casing pipe and said production pipe above said pump means.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said casing pipe and tubing pipe are connected to a well head having a base portion supported on a slab; and

said seal means includes a gasket mounted between said base portion and said slab.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 2 wherein: said packer is an inflatable packer installed near the upper ends of said casing pipe and production pipe.

5. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said pump means includes a centrifugal pump.

6. In apparatus for producing water from a well the combination comprising:

a casing pipe extending dowgwardlysinto said well with the lower end thereof beingsubstantiallybelow the water level in said well;

production pipe supported inside said casing piper a centrifugal pump connected to said production pipe below I sure in said production pipe and diverting water through said sounding lines when said water pressure exceeds a predetermined level; and

an inflatable packer mounted between said casing pipe and said production pipe for therebetween, whereby oxygen intrusion produced water is substantially eliminated.

providing an air into seal the 

